Day Three in Fukuoka.
This usually means the start of maezumo but there will not be maezumo at this tournament. There were only four participants in the entrance exam before the basho and two of them were foreigners. The foreigners have to wait for their visas to come through, which will likely be January. One of them is Anatoli, a recruit from Estonia who will join Hidenoyama beya.
As Justin mentioned in the replies, the two Japanese recruits are going to join the same heya and there won’t be any injured rikishi coming back who would participate in maezumo again. So, no maezumo.
We do have a new report from the infirmary today. Kotoeiho is kyujo due to a neck injury that led to numbness in his right hand. Apparently, he’s got a herniated disc in his neck. Yikes. NHK says he’s out for four weeks. Kinbozan will receive the default victory.
Speaking of NHK, your videos are here. Today’s videos include a nice little interview with Shinkomusubi Churanoumi that features his work promoting sumo with kids.
Before we hop to the top division action, let’s check in on our former makuuchi wrestlers in Juryo. Wakatakakage and Tobizaru continue to fight for their return, joined by Kayo, Enho, and Tamashoho at 3-0. Enho is always dangerous with his leg picks as Sadanoumi discovered today.
In Makushita, Fujinokawa’s brother, Ikarigata Chugo is making a case for rapid promotion. He tood down Asahifuji’s old nemesis, Tenshoyama, today. Ikazuchido picked up his first win of the tournament against Kyokumizuno and Kaki got his second win. Naya picked off Kiryuko. Hikarumusashi won his first bout of the basho against Ryutsukasa. Eisei and Sunamusashi had the day off. Apologies for the truncated early division action but there’s a lot of great action to focus on in Makuuchi today.
Makuuchi Action
Kyokukaiyu (2-1) defeated Arashifuji (2-1). Solid tachiai from Kyokuakiyu. As Kyokukaiyu recoiled, Arashifuji stumbled forward and touched the clay with his hand. Kimura Shozaburo didn’t see, so he tried to play it off and the fight continued briefly before Kokonoe-oyakata, the head shimpan, alerted the gyoji. “Yo, Arashifuji touched, dude.” That’s an awesome name, “Shou-ZA-buro.” I could say that all day. Tsukite.
Tamawashi (2-1) defeated Daiseizan (0-3). Daiseizan has not looked ready for this tournament. Tamawashi blasted into him at the tachiai, leading with a fierce clash of heads. Tamawashi followed with tsuppari and drove Daiseizan out. Oshidashi.
Dewanoryu (3-0) defeated Kitanowaka (1-2). Kitanowaka tried to use his right hand ottsuke to displace Dewanoryu’s left-hand inside grip. He briefly broke Dewanoryu’s hold but Dewanoryu quickly locked back on again. He used that strong hidari-yotsu hold and dragged Kitanowaka over to the edge, pivoted and threw Kitanowaka to the ground with his right-hand overarm grip. After my Day One snafu with his shikona, Dewanoryu’s message to Andy is, “Learn my name, Dude.” Yes, sir. He’s been fighting really well to start this tournament and looks like he belongs in the division. Kitanowaka, Toshinofuji, and Daiseizan are not quite as persuasive here. Uwatedashinage.
Tokihayate (1-2) defeated Toshinofuji (0-3). While Toshinofuji leaned over Tokihayate’s back and fumbled for a belt grip, Tokihayate charged into Toshinofuji and blasted him from the ring. Oshidashi.
Asasuiryu (2-1) defeated Abi (1-2). Abi’s back, ankle wrapped up with about sixty feet of tape there. Asasuiryu did not take it easy on him and bulldozed Abi back and out. Will he grind it out and pray for leniency from the Banzuke committee? Oshidashi.
Takanosho (3-0) defeated Ichiyamamoto (1-2). The men traded tsuppari, Ichiyamamoto advancing steadily. As Takanosho reached the edge of the dohyo, he shifted left and slapped Ichiyamamoto down. Hatakikomi.
Oho (2-1) defeated Asahakuryu (2-1). Oho moved forward! He forced Asahakuryu back to the edge where Asahakuryu tried to shift right and thrust Oho down to the side. But Oho had his wits about him, adjusted to Asahakuryu’s shift and plowed ahead. “Call Mr. Plow. That’s my name. That name again is Mr. Plow.” I like this version of Oho. Yorikiri.
Oshoma (2-1) defeated Shishi (0-3). Shishi tried to lumber forward and get in for his left hand grip but Oshoma kept shoving him away. Eventually, Shishi grew so tired (or bored) that he fell asleep and flopped into the middle of the ring. YAWN. Again, terrible footwork from Shishi. He’s stumbling all over. And Oshoma demonstrated the less creativity than a kindergarden art class. Hatakikomi.
Nishikifuji (1-2) defeated Asakoryu (1-2). Nishikifuji’s tachiai woke me up. He hit Asakoryu with a shoulder blast and followed with steady thrusts. Asakoryu barely had time to try any counter attack before he was being driven over the bales. Yorikiri.
Wakamotoharu (2-1) defeated Roga (1-2). Wakamotoharu got a left-hand grip deep at the back of Roga’s mawashi. He drove ahead and forced Roga out quickly. Yorikiri.
Kinbozan (3-0) default win over Kotoeiho (1-2).
Halftime
Kotoshoho (2-1) defeated Hiradoumi (1-2). Kotoshoho battered Hiradoumi with head shots out the gate. Hiradoumi shifted to avoid and tried to re-engage from the side but Kotoshoho slapped him down. Hatakikomi.
Takerufuji (2-1) defeated Gonoyama (1-2). Gonoyama charged ahead but Takerufuji slid to the left and pulled Gonoyama down. Tsukiotoshi.
Hakunofuji (2-1) defeated Takayasu (1-2). Hakunofuji reminded me of a weatherman assigned to hurricane duty. He withstood a shoulder blast tachiai followed by a torrent of tsuppari from Takayasu. The only respite came from wrapping his arms around a tree (Takayasu) and waiting for the storm to die down. Hakunofuji then pressed forward and forced Takayasu out with an extra shove to make sure Papayasu was good and out. Yorikiri.
Sanyaku
Atamifuji (3-0) defeated Daieisho (1-2). Atamifuji read the brief. He blocked as much of Daieisho’s incoming blasts as he could and watched out for Daieisho’s sudden shifts. Daieisho eventually shifted himself too close to the edge and Atamifuji charged ahead. Daieisho tried to run away and shift again but shifted himself out. Oshidashi.
Churanoumi (1-2) defeated Fujinokawa (0-3). Fujinokawa was on edge and jumped the gun twice. Churanoumi got a strong left-arm uwate and dragged Fujinokawa down with a forceful throw. I’m sorry, did Churanoumi pull a tooth out, all nonchalant-like, while walking back down the hanamichi? I hope that was just some broccoli. Uwatenage.
Kotozakura (2-1) defeated Fujiseiun (1-2). Now this was Ozeki zumo. Kotozakura forced his way forward until he got that big left-hand grip at the back of Fujiseiun’s belt. Then, he pivoted and dragged Fujiseiun down. Fight like this from now on, Zakura-seki! Can I call you, Zack? No? Wise choice. Uwatenage.
Aonishiki (2-1) defeated Ura (0-3). I didn’t know what Ura had planned and Aonishiki likely didn’t either. We all knew what Aonishiki had planned. Left-hand inside. Ura, it turns out, let him go for that because he was counting on it. He bum-rushed the Ozeki and drove forward, seizing Aonishiki’s belt with his right hand outside as the Ozeki got his favored hold. Ura then suddenly pulled and tried a forceful uwatenage. It would have been a spectacular move but Aonishiki maintained his composure and used his excellent footwork to move inside, wrapping up Ura with both arms and forcing him back and out. Excellent sumo from both men. Good try, Ura-zeki. Yorikiri.
Yoshinofuji (2-1) defeated Kirishima (2-1). Yoshinofuji got his right hand uwate early. Kirishima tried to use his left-hand inside hold to throw Yoshinofuji. Yoshinofuji countered by wrapping his leg around Kirishima and using the added leverage to make his overarm throw work. Fantastic move! Kirishima had a wry smile of appreciation as he got himself back up from the ground. Uwatenage.
Fujiryoga (2-1) defeated Hoshoryu (2-1). Fujiryoga exposed the vulnerability of Hoshoryu’s knee. Hatsu-kinboshi. Hoshoryu pivoted and pulled, clutching for that right hand uwate. It never came. Fujiryoga recovered and charged at the Yokozuna, forcing him back to the edge and then bull-rushing him back onto his ass. “Das ist nicht gut.” Oshitaoshi.
Onosato (2-1) defeated Asanoyama (1-2). Asanoyama got his left-hand uwate but could not quite get that right arm inside. Undeterred, he planted his foot and pulled hard on the Yokozuna’s belt, dragging him toward the edge. Onosato used his footwork and his own solid inside belt grip to keep Asanoyama centered, crushing the former Ozeki backward and out. Asanoyama may have lost but he left his mark. Onosato got up with a bloodied mouth. I’m not sure if it was from the fierce tachiai or the fall. I wouldn’t be surprised if Onosato will be looking for some late-night dental work. Yoritaoshi.
Wrap-up
I’ve got a serious question. Who is better, Yoshinofuji or Atamifuji? Which Isegahama wrestler is destined for higher office, more accolades, more titles, more hardware? Right now, Atamifuji has the Heyagashira title. I mean, it’s staggering to think of Hakunofuji and Takerufuji as the “B-Team” at Isegahama-beya but here we are.
Now, turning to the Fujishima Boys, Fujiryoga draws first blood, claiming his first kinboshi. Both of these guys have burst onto the scene and are becoming quite the duo. I look forward to seeing these guys develop. Fujiseiun will get his chance at a kinboshi tomorrow as he will fight Onosato. Fujiryoga will take on Aonishiki and both are first-time meets.
Hoshoryu looked shaky today on that knee. He will fight Ura tomorrow. We’ll see how he recovers from today’s loss. It will be very important to pick up these early wins. He can’t be scrambling for a kachi-koshi in the final days, or we’ll see his final days on the dohyo sooner rather than later.
Asanoyama will fight Kotozakura, whom he leads in the rivalry with a 3-0 record. However, their first head-to-head was more than 10 years ago, way back in Sandanme and both were fighting under their real names: Ishibashi vs. Koto-Kamatani. They would fight again two years ago when Asanoyama was making his first comeback. We’ll see how it goes this time. With Kotozakura fighting well, this could actually be a really good bout.
Kirishima will fight Takayasu in yet another highlight bout. Atamifuji will fight Churanoumi and Fujinokawa will take on Yoshinofuji. It’s amazing Fujinokawa is still winless. Can he turn this around and save his potential Ozeki run? Or will it wither on the vine? Yoshinofuji leads the head-to-head with a 6-1 advantage.
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